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Paul Chan Mo-po is Hong Kong's Secretary for Development. An accountant and the former President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), he was appointed by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying after the resignation of Mak Chai-kwong following a housing allowance scandal. In July 2013, Chan was accused of a conflict of interest when it was revealed that he or his family had an interest in a plot of land in the New Territories that the government had plans to develop.

News›Hong Kong

POLITICS

Hundreds call for development minister Paul Chan to step down

Villagers oppose plans for new town by vowing to defend their homes and calling for the head of embattled development chief Paul Chan

Au Hei-man, 28, who lives in Ma Shi Po village in Fanling, said: "I was very angry when I found out about the controversy in the newspapers. No wonder he has been making such a huge effort to put through this redevelopment proposal. He just wanted to make money out of it."

Kwu Tung North villager Chung Xiaoqing, 20, was shocked to learn of the scandal because the land at the centre of the row is next to her home.

"It was a piece of barren land with some factories there … If my home eventually has to be demolished, I think I will collapse. It is my home and the place I love."

Coco Mak Ho-yin, president of Chinese University's New Asia College Student Union, was particularly unhappy that Chan quoted the college anthem to show his determination to stay in office last week. "Our college motto says that we need to be honest. He has violated this."

A government spokesman said the government understood that the public had high expectations regarding any possible conflicts of interest involving officials. The development minister and others had already made repeated clarifications regarding the land in Kwu Tung North, the spokesman said.

The Development Bureau published a blog written by Chan on the bureau's website yesterday about the government's determination to boost heritage conservation.

However, it made no reference to yesterday's protest or the recent controversy.

Separately, Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said after a television talk show that Chan had made declarations according to the government's mechanism.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Protesters urge minister to quit